Electric fan



ELECTRIC FAN Filed Jan. 28, 1938 v v4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1.

WIT/VE SS Aug. 30, 1938. G. ZINT 2,128,724v

ELEGTRI FAN` Filed Jan. 28, 1933 y4 Sheets-sheet 2 I1 [Ti lillllllllllllllHllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll .'IHI

Auf 30, 1938vo G. zlNT 2,128,724

ELECTRIC FAN v Filed Jan. 28, 1938 4 Sheets-Sher#I 5 www WITNESS G. ZINT ELECTRIC FAN Filed Jan. 28, 1938 Aug. 3o, 1938.

Fig. 62

. WITNESS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Aug. 30, 1938 TJNITEDA STATES PATENT orties Y ELEc'mIo FAN George Zint, Wapakoneta, `Ohio Application January 28, 1938, Serial No. 187,489

12 Claims.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide, a new and improved electric fan of the oscillating type, including novel provision whereby the extent of oscillation of the fan may be varied as desired.

Another object is to provide for swinging the fan-carrying and driving motor to any of various positions to direct the blasts of air in the-most desirable directions, the provision for thus -adi justing the fan being of such nature that the adjustment may be quickly and easily performed without hazard, while the fan is in operation.

A still further object is to provide a construction of comparatively simple and inexpensive nature, yet one which will be efficient and desirable. y With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.y

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, partly in section.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line t-Ii of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is V a fragmentary disassembled perspective View.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In thedrawings above briefly described, a construction has been illustrated for readily attaining the desired ends, and while this construction may be considered as preferred, it is to be understood that numerous variations maybe made l within the scope of the invention'as claimed.

` A hollow base i0 is provided, rigidly connected by screw threads orv otherwise, with a central tubular standard II, and a large worm wheel I2 is secured to the upper end of this standard. Preferably, the standard II is provided with an upward extension I 3 passing through the worm wheel I2, the upper end of said extension being provided with a head I3 which clamps said worm 5 wheel solidly to the standard II. Suitably supported within the standard Il is a thrust bearing I4 upon which a vtubular trunnion I5 rests, the upper end of said trunnion being provided with an integral head or cap I6 which overlies 50 and encloses the head I3. Integral with this head or cap I5 is a plate-like portion II of a carrier I8, which carrier is preferably a onepiece casting embodying two verticalside members I9 and 2), a cowl-like casing portion 2| inte- 55 grally connected with said side members and with the plate portion Il, two upstanding` lugs or arms 22 and 23 between said side members I9 and 20, and a cylindrical stub 24 projecting laterally outward from the upper end of the side member A bracket 25 carrying the driving motor 26 for the fan 21, is formed with an opening 28 into which the stub 24 projects to pivotally mount said bracket and thus allow upward or downward arcuate adjustment of the motor and fan lo to direct the air blast in any desired direction with regard to the horizontal. The bracket 25 isformed with another opening 29 at right angles to the axis of the opening 28. In the inner end of this opening 29, there is a friction shoe 3l) l5 contacting with-the periphery of the stub 24. A

coiled compression spring 3l abuts the outerend of the shoe 3l), and a clamping screw 32 is threaded in the outer end of said opening '9 in abutting relation with the outer end of said go spring. The screw 32 is provided with a hand grip 33l which is preferably of sufficient weight to at least partially counterbalance the weight of the motor 26. When the screw 32 is sufliciently tightened, spring 3| forces shoe 3i) against 25 the stub 24 with such force as to frictionally clamp the bracket 25 to said stub, holding said bracket in any position to which it may have been adjusted. The hand grip 33 serves not only as means vfor quickly and easily loosening the screw 3@ 32, but it further acts as a handle for vertically swinging the bracket 25 upon the stub 24. It is thus an easy matter to so adjust the fan as to direct the air upwardly, downwardly or horizontally. 'By grasping the hand grip 33 in one 35 hand, turning said hand grip slightly to release the screw 32, swinging said hand grip upwardly or downwardly, and then turning it to tighten the screw 32, the desired adjustment may be conveniently made.

.A shaft 35 passes through bearing openings 35 inthe side members I9 and 20 of the carrier I8 and isprovided at one end with a worm 3l mesh ing withthe worm gear I2. Above this shaft 35 is another shaft 38 rotatably mounted in bearing 45 openings 39 in the side members I9 and 2l). Above the shaft 38 is a third shaft 4I) mounted in bearing openings 4I in the side members I9 and 2G, these openings 4I being coaxial with the cylindrical pivot stub 2li. Pinned or otherwise 50 secured to the shaft 40, is a worm wheel 42 meshing with a worm 43 on the motor shaft 44. Secured to the opposite end of the shaft all) is a gear 45meshing with an idler 46 which in turn meshes with anothergear 4l on oney end of the 55v shaft 38, said gear 41 being meshed with a gear 48 which is loose on one end of the shaft 35. Also loosely mounted on this shaft is another gear 49 meshing with an idler 58, which idler meshes with a gear I on the shaft 38. A clutch sleeve 52 is slidably splined or otherwise mounted on the shaft 35 between the two gears 48 and 49, said clutch member serving to selectively connect one or the other of these gears with said shaft. When gear 48 is connected with the shaft 35, the worm 31 will,V be driven in one direction and consequently the carrier I8 will move arcuately in one direction with respect to the base and the Worm wheel I2. When the clutch sleeve 52 connects theother gear 48 with the shaft 35, hoW- A reversing fork 53 is operatively connectedY with the sleeve 52 and is secured upon a shaft 54 rotatably mounted in bearings 55 in the lugs or arms 22 and 23, the outer end of said shaft 54 being providedwith a downwardly projecting reversing arm 58 which is operable between two trips 51. When the arm 5B strikes one of these trips 51, the movement of said arm operates the fork 53 to slide the clutch sleeve 52 in one direction, operatively connecting gear 48 with shaft 35. When arm 56 strikes the other of the trips 51, the movement of said arm causes the fork 53 to shift the clutch sleeve 52 in the opposite direction, operatively connecting gear 49 with shaft 35. Thus, the driving of the Worm 31kflrst in one direction and then in the other to slowly oscillate the carrier I1 and the parts carried thereby, is attained. T'he two trips 51 are preferably relatively adjustable. Inthe present sho-wing, each of said trips is provided with a split ring 58 at its inner end, the two rings of the two trips being frictionally received in shallo-w grooves 59 in the standard II. The trips 51 may thus be swung to any desired spaced relation and the vfriction between the groove bottoms and the rings 58, will hold said trips after adjustment. Preferably, the standard II carries a fixed pin 8 which prevents such setting of the trip arms 51 as to allow complete rotation of the carrier I1 with danger of injuring the current conducting wires 6I which lead to the motor 26. These wires pass from a switch 62 within the base I8, upwardly through the tubular standard I I, through the tubular trunnion I5, and through an opening 63 in the head or cap I6, and from this opening extend on to the motor 26.

It is preferable that the clutch sleeve 52 have a snap-action in both directions. To insure this, I preferably provide an upstanding arm 64 on one end of the shaft 54 and provide a spring arm 65 of V-shape to coact with said arm 64 to snap it in one direction or the other as soon as said arm is pushed slightly past the crest of thev V. In the present disclosure, the arm 65 is provided with a coil 66 surrounding a pin 61 on the carrier I8, the end of said spring opposite the arm 65 being extended at 63 and secured to the carrier by a screw 89.

From the foregoingtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objectsof the invention, and While preferred features have been shown, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed. Obviously, the invention is not restricted to a motor of any particular type, to fan blades of one kind or another, nor to materials, proportions, etc. Moreover, it will be obvious that any desired encasing means may be employed for any of the moving parts. In the present showing, most of the gearing is protected by a cover 'Ill extending between and over the side members I9 and 20 of the carrier I8, said cover being secured at 1I to the cowl portion 2| and at 12 to the lug or arm 22. An arched cover plate. 13 is also shown for the worm wheel 42 and worm 43, secured by screws 14 to the bracket25.

I claim:

l. An oscillating electric fan comprising a base, a standard rising rigidly therefrom, a worm Wheel secured to the end of said standard most remote from the base, an oscillatory carrier mounted directly adjacent said worm wheel, a fan-driving motor mounted on said carrier, a worm mounted on said carrier and meshing with said worm wheel, reversible gearing mounted on said carrier and operatively connected with said motor and said worm for driving the latter in either direction, a reversing arm for said reversible gearing mounted on said carrier, and xed trips between which said arm is operable to cause reversing of said reversible gearing when said carrier has turned a predetermined distance in either direction.

v2. An electric fan comprising a carrier mounted for rotation, a bracket pivotally mounted on said carrier on an axis transverse to the axis of rotation thereof, means for holding said bracket after adjustment upon its pivot, a fan-driving motor mounted on said bracket, and means for rotating said carrier, including one gear mounted coaxially with the pivot of said bracket, and a second gear meshing with said one gear and secured to the motor shaft, the two gears remaining in mesh during adjustment of said bracket upon its pivot.

3. An electric fan comprising a base having a xed worm wheel, a carrier rotatably mounted on said base coaxially with said worm wheel, a gear train mounted on said carrier and having a worm wheel at one end and a worm at its other end, the axis of said worm Wheel of said train being transverse to the axis of rotation of said carrier, said worm of said train being in mesn with said xed worm wheel, a bracket pivotally mounted on said carrier coaxially with said axis of said worm Wheel of said train for `arcuate adjustment, means for holding said bracket in adjusted position, a fan-driving motor mounted on said bracket, and a worm on the motor shaft meshing with said worm Wheel of said train, this worm and worm wheel remaining in mesh during adjustment of said bracket upon its pivot.

4. An electric fan comprising a support, a bracket pivotally mounted on said support for arcuate adjustment, a fan-driving motor mounted on said bracket, and means for securing said bracket inv adjusted position, said securing means having a `hand grip rotatable slightly to release said holding means and then operable as a handle for adjusting said bracket upon its pivot.

5. An electric fan comprising a support, a bracket pivotally mounted on said support for manual arcuate adjustment, a fan-driving motor mounted on said bracket, the relation of said motor with the pivot of said bracket being such that said motor and bracket have a tendency to Swing in one direction by gravity, and manually operable means for holding said bracket after manual adjustment thereof, said manually operable means having a heavy operating handle positioned to at least partially counter-balance the .tendency of the motor and bracket to swing in said one direcion.

6. An electric fan comprising a support having a laterally projecting cylindrical stub, a motorcarrying bracket having anopening in which said cylindrical stub is received to pivotally mount said bracket for arcuate adjustment, said bracket having a second opening at right `angles to' and communicating with the iirst named opening, and means for frictionally clamping said bracket to said cylindrical stub to hold said bracket in adjusted position, said clamping means having a clamping screwthreaded in said second opening, and a hand grip on the outer end of said screw, said hand grip being operable both as means for turning said screw and as a handle for vertically Y adjusting said bracket when said screw is loosened. f

7. An electric fan comprising a support having a laterally projecting cylindrical stub, a motorcarrying bracket having an opening in which said cylindrical stub is received to pivotally mount said bracket for arcuate adjustment, said bracket having a second .opening at right angles tol and cornmunicating with the first named opening, a friction shoe in said second opening in contact with said cylindrical stub, a coiled compression spring in said second opening abutting the outer end of said friction shoe, a clamping screw threaded in said second opening and abutting the outer end of said spring, and a hand grip on the outer end of said screw, said hand grip being operable both as means for turning said screw and as a handle for pivotally adjusting said bracket when said screw is loosened.

8. An oscillatory electric fan comprising .a base provided with a fixed worm wheel, a carrier supported by said base to turn upon the axis of said worm wheel, a fan-driving motor mounted on said carrier, a worm mounted lon said carrier and meshing with said worm wheel, reversible gearing ported by said base to turn upon the axis of said worm wheel, a fan-driving motor mounted on said carrier, a worm mounted on said carrier and meshing with said worm Wheel, reversible gearing mounted on said carrier and establishing an operating connection between said motor land said worm for driving the latter in either direction, a reversing member mounted on said carrier for reversing said gearing when moved in either direction, and two` xed trips between which said reversing member is operable to effect the required movements of said reversing member to reverse said gearing.

10. An oscillatory electric fan comprising a base, a standard rising rigidly therefrom, a worm wheel secured to said standard, an oscillatory carrier pivotally connected with said standard to turn about the axis of said worm wheel, a fandriving motor mounted on said carrier, a worm mounted on said carrier and meshing with said Worm wheel, reversible gearing mounted on said carrier and operatively connected with said motor and said worm for driving the latter in either direction, a reversing arm for said reversible gearing mounted on said carrier, and xed trips between which said arm is operable to cause reversing of said reversible gearing when said carrier has turned a predetermined distance in either direction.

11. An electric fan comprising a support having a laterally projecting cylindrical stub, a motorcarrying bracket having an opening in which said cylindrical stub is received to pivotally mount said bracket for arcuate adjustment, said bracket having a second opening at right angles to and communicating with the first named opening, and means for frictionally clamping said bracket to said cylindrical stub to hold Said bracket in adjusted position, said clamping means having a clamping screw threaded in said second opening, and a handle on the outer end of said screw.

12. An electric fan comprising a support having a laterally projecting cylindrical stub, a motorcarrying bracket having an opening in which said cylindrical stub is received to pivotally mount said bracket for arcuate adjustment, said bracket having a second opening at right angles to and communicating With the first named opening, a friction shoe in said second opening in contact with said cylindrical stub, a coiled compression spring in said second opening abutting the outer end of said friction shoe, a clamping screw threaded in said second opening and abutting the outer end of said spring, and a handle on the outer end of said screw.

GEORGE ZINT. 

